Brassic is Sky One’s latest comedy and it’s the brilliantly funny brainchild of This Is England actor Joe Gilgun.

Starring Our Girls’ Michelle Keegan and Ripper Street’s Damien Molony, the series follows a group of working-class friends who find unconventional ways to survive in suburban Lancashire – including scamming, bribing and stealing a Shetland pony. The six episodes will no doubt have you in stitches from the word go, just as if it were the bigger and more outrageous northern brother of BBC Three’s This Country. Lawlessness runs rife in Brassic and the group make rules for themselves as they go along, sticking their middle fingers up to the police as they avoid being arrested for their absolutely wild petty crimes.

After just a few minutes in it’s clear that it’s got a touch of Shameless about it, and that’s no surprise with legendary screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst serving as co-creator. With Joe and Danny at the helm, there was no way they’d put together a show that didn’t shine a light on those towns overlooked and underrepresented on the small screen. While mental health is a subject matter that is usually avoided in comedies, Brassic faces it head-on stares it square in the face. It’s an aspect of the show that serves as a plot point but it’s not shoved down your throat in an overpowering manner. And, while this theme is handled sensitively, it’s also executed in such a way that audiences can still laugh.

Joe’s character Vinnie constantly battles with his bipolar disorder and his troubled childhood is made a point of in the opening episode. Audiences are quick to learn that his mum walked out leaving him in the not so capable hands of his alcoholic dad. Vinnie struggles with his highs and lows and though his GP proves to be rather useless, he’s got a good support network in his friends. Breaking down the taboo that men don’t tend to discuss their feelings, Vinnie is open and honest about his and isn’t afraid to let them know when he’s having a bit of a moment. The bipolar element has a personal connection too as Joe is diagnosed with the condition himself. It’s safe to say that bipolar isn’t glamorised or dramatised for the show’s sake either which is, you know, rather refreshing. Forget old episodes of The Inbetweeners or Peep Show and dare we say it, Derry Girls. Brassic is here and it’s worth your time.

Read more here